Browsing by Author "Sousa, Pedro"
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- Bioburden contamination and Staphylococcus aureus colonization associated with firefighter's ambulancesPublication . Viegas, Carla; Sousa, Pedro; Dias, Marta; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Ribeiro, Edna; Carolino, Elisabete; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, SusanaAmbulance vehicles are an essential part of emergency clinical services. Bioburden control in ambulances, thorough cleaning and disinfection, is crucial to minimize hospital-acquired infections, cross contamination and exposure of patients and ambulances‘ crew. In Portugal, firefighter crews are responsible, besides fire extinction, for first aid and urgent pre-hospital treatment. This study assessed the bioburden in Portuguese firefighters’ ambulances with a multi-approach protocol using active and passive sampling methods. Fungal resistance profile and mycotoxins detection in ambulances' ambient, and S. aureus (SA) prevalence and resistance profile in ambulances' ambient and colonization in workers were also investigated. Toxigenic fungi with clinical relevance, namely Aspergillus section Fumigati, were found on ambulance's air in the hazardous dimension range. Interestingly, surface contamination was higher after cleaning in several sampling sites. Prevalence of S. aureus was 3% in environmental samples, of which 2% were methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and 1% methicillin-resistant (MRSA). About 2.07 fungal species were able to grow in at least one azole, ranging from one (44% samples) to five (6% samples) species in each azole. Mycotoxins were detected in mops and electrostatic dust cloths. Colonization by S. aureus in the firefighter crew was observed with a high associated prevalence, namely 48%, with a 24% prevalence of MSSA (8/33) and 21% of MRSA (7/33). Additional studies are needed to determine the potential risk of infection transmission between different vehicle fleets and under varying conditions of use. This will strengthen the paramedic sector's mission to save lives without putting their own health and safety at risk.
- Fungal exposure in agricultural environments: a reviewPublication . Sousa, Pedro; Viegas, CarlaFungi can be easily found in agriculture environments due to the good growing conditions that are provided by the raw materials present in this environment and for its storage temperatures. Due to the daily activities, organic dust is present in these occupational environments, creating the optimal conditions for occupational exposure by the inhalation route. This study was employed a review method regarding the fungal exposure in agricultural environments reported between 2000 and 2019. The exclusive use of active sampling was found in 10 out of the 18 studies and the most common assay was the culture based-methods allowing morphological identification. Aspergillus was the most common genera found, while Alternaria alternata was the species more frequently described. This study raises concerns about occupational exposure to fungi on agriculture environments due to the high concentrations of organic dust and highlights the importance to use more than one sampling and assay methods to have an accurate exposure assessment.
- Occupational exposure to bioburden in Portuguese ambulancesPublication . Dias, Marta; Sousa, Pedro; Viegas, CarlaObjective: The aim of this study is to characterize the occupational exposure to the bioburden of ambulance workers and to suggest control procedures to prevent microbial contamination. Background: Ambulances are of critical importance for health services. Thus effective cleaning protocols are essential. Method: This study was held during the winter months (November and December) of 2019 in two Firefighters Headquarters (FF). A total of 12 ambulances were sampled (4 from FF1 and 8 from FF2). The sample consisted of twelve settled dust samples from driver’s and medical cabins of the 12 ambulances, 5 mop samples (2 from FF1 and 3 from FF2) used for the cleaning procedures of all the headquarters’ ambulances, and also 2 cleaning cloths samples from 2 individual ambulances from FF2. Results: Gram-negative bacteria presented the highest prevalence in both matrixes from FF1 (54.7% settled Dust; 56.41% mop and cleaning cloths); in FF2, Total Bacteria (TSA) presented the highest prevalence in settled dust (54.96%). Regarding the fungal contamination, in FF1 the highest prevalence was in MEA in both matrixes (61.2% settled dust; 60.7% mop and cleaning cloths); in FF2, DG18 presented the highest prevalence in settled dust samples (53.3%). Conclusion: The results reinforce the importance to use passive sampling methods combined with active methods and that a wider pool of culture media allows more complete results. Application: This study will support the paramedic sector’s mission while ensuring their working conditions.
- Relação entre o horário escolar e miopia em portugueses jovens adultosPublication . Pedro, Márcia; Sousa, Pedro; Silveira, Ricardo; Lopes, Rita; Plácido, Susana; Mendanha, Luís; Carolino, Elisabete; Lança, CarlaIntrodução – A miopia é uma condição comum que geralmente começa em idade escolar, sendo uma anomalia refrativa multifatorial associada sobretudo ao crescimento excessivo do comprimento axial do globo ocular. Os fatores de risco ambientais relacionam-se com longos períodos de realização de tarefas de perto, número de anos de escolaridade e reduzida atividade ao ar livre. A idade de início da miopia é um fator de risco para uma progressão mais rápida, existindo um maior risco de progredir para alta miopia (≤-5,00 dioptrias, D) no futuro. Objetivos – Estudar a relação entre o horário escolar, as atividades extracurriculares e o tempo ao ar livre e a idade de aparecimento de miopia em jovens adultos portugueses. Métodos – Foi desenvolvido um estudo transversal descritivo. Foram recolhidos dados refrativos de sete óticas em Portugal. No estudo foram incluídos indivíduos entre os 25 anos e os 40 anos de idade. Através de um questionário foram recolhidos dados sobre fatores de risco (trabalhos de perto, tempo ao ar livre, aulas de apoio e anos de estudo) para análise da sua influência na idade de aparecimento da miopia e o equivalente esférico (EE). Modelos de regressão linear múltipla foram aplicados para avaliar os fatores associados à idade de aparecimento da miopia e ao EE. Resultados – Foram incluídos adultos míopes (n=54) com EE entre -0.50 e -18.50 D. A idade média foi de 32,63±4,37 anos e 51,85% eram do sexo feminino. O EE médio foi de -3,19±2,96 e a média da idade de aparecimento da miopia foi de 14,44±7,39 anos. Adultos com EE mais negativo apresentaram idade de aparecimento mais precoce (B=2,36; p<0,001). Adultos com mais anos de escolaridade (B=-0,20; p=0,030) e idade de aparecimento mais precoce apresentaram EE mais negativo (B=0,17; p<0,001). Conclusões – Este estudo mostrou que quanto mais cedo for a idade de aparecimento da miopia mais negativo será o valor do EE. Além disso, o EE mais negativo é influenciado por um maior número de anos de estudo.